Top Tips for working from home

Try to establish a routine as much as possible. It is very easy to get stuck with the same task for an extended period whether responding to emails or watching a series on Netflix. I find what works for me is to have a schedule with varied tasks spread from the moment I wake up to the time I go back to bed.

Best Apps for catching up with friends/family

One of my favourite ways to communicate is WhatsApp and occasionally Facetime. I set up a group chat with my friends around the world as soon as we went into lock down. It was a great way to get tips from friends to understand the current situation and for staying in touch. This weekend I also used Zoom for the first time connecting with friends on 3 different continents as we deliberated the current status quo.

Best series to stream

Under normal circumstances I do not watch TV. I have only watched series on Netflix and by far one of my favourites is The Crown. I am currently watching Sex Education, which I love, and concurrently Schitt’s Creek, which can be funny. I missed out on Game of Thrones and cannot wait to watch that series.

Best book to curl up with

I have just finished Haruki Murakami’s Norwegian Wood, as I love anything relating to Japan and am now reading “On Managing Yourself” by HBR, which is particularly helpful these days.

Best music to boost your mood with

There are different downloads and playlists from Spotify – or you can follow my playlists. In the morning I like to listen to Baroque music, such as ‘Morning Baroque & Classical by digitiki’ or ‘Academy of Ancient Music’.

While working I find ‘Peaceful Retreat’ very soothing.

While having a run or doing a workout at home I like to listen to more energetic music, such as ‘The Mayan Warrior Experience by Jose Pablo Anaya’, ‘Burning Man 2020’, ‘Burning Man Decompression by Eric Shoemaker’, ‘South African House Music by Wil Van Zyl,’ ‘Rufus du Sol’ or ‘Trippy T by omerakacan’.

While having dinner I enjoy a little jazz, such as ‘Dinner Jazz Instrumental by Lucas London’.

Best way to keep fit in isolation

I am still figuring that out, but for now a 30-minute run every evening at sunset on the Venetian Causeway followed by some exercise on the matt when back home.

Best easy to make cocktail to keep Friday special

Dirty vodka martinis have always been my favourite drinks …and am gradually perfecting the art of making them. The basic ingredients are Vodka, Vermouth & olives, olive brine.

Best home cooked meal

Every day I create something new. I am lucky to have a family that loves cooking, so I am always on the phone getting instructions from my mother, father or brother on how to prepare a recipe.

What has this global pandemic made you reflect or think about? 

It has made me reflect on my past and also my current lifestyle. My life for the past 30 years has been a peripatetic one – of two or three cities per week – never sleeping in the same bed for more than 4 – 5 days in a row. The last time I was in the same place for so long was when I was in boarding school in Lebanon at the age 9.  It is a very strange feeling to have spent the past 20 days in the same apartment, where my farthest visit was to Fresh Market, 500 meters walking distance. I am working every day and my days are incredibly busy from a very early start of the day to catch up with London with non-stop calls emails with my employees and clients around the world. It is only in the early evening that I can relax.

(Taken out: I never realised how much cleaning an apartment takes, (though I am neat), how many dishes and glasses one person can get dirty, how much food one person can consume and how much trash one generates. It is staggering…)

Of course, with my newly found free time, one has time to think about questions and topics which we usually keep supressed in our normal busy schedule. Existential questions such as the meaning of life. What does it all mean? What is the purpose of what we do? How do I want to live my life? Where do I want to live? Questions which keep repeating themselves… who knows perhaps I will have the answers by the end of the pandemic….